Mobility on demand in the United States – Current state of integration and policy considerations for improved interoperability

Abstract

The concept of Mobility on Demand (MOD) aims to create a safe and convenient ecosystem for transportation and goods delivery. Despite offering various services, the integration and seamless data exchange among different modes of transportation remain challenging. To address this, research was conducted to examine the current state of integration in the MOD ecosystem, identify gaps in data exchange, and propose policy considerations. The research highlighted the limited integration and inconsistent data structures in the United States (U.S.), attributed to the absence of policy directives and high costs of traditional standards development. Industry-led initiatives are driving progress in standards and specifications. Deep linking and deep integration were distinguished, emphasizing the importance of a truly user-centric MOD solution. Emerging mobility models leveraging blockchain technology show promise in facilitating efficient data sharing and collaboration among various operators. Transportation policy makers play a crucial role in supporting open-source standards and integration efforts. An initial framework utilizing open-source efforts such as Transport Operator Mobility-as-a-service Provider (TOMP), Mobility Data Specification (MDS), General On-demand Feed Specification (GOFS), Transactional Data Specification (TDS), Operational Data Standard (ODS), and City Data Standard for Mobility (CDS-M) was proposed to drive the advancement of scalable and user-centric MOD systems.